DRAG MESH

 

Description: This function offers five methods to extrude elements from a cross-section of      pattern elements. See the following figure for the five methods:

 

Usage:

 

             

 

1.  DSI prompts:

>   SELECT DRAG MESH OPTION

?   ONE LINE DRAG

   Allows user to drag 1D elements into 2D elements (beam to plate) or 2D elements into 3D elements (plate to solid) along a selected line.

NORMAL DRAG

   Extrudes plate elements into solid elements normal to the selected plate elements.

ROTATIONAL DRAG

   Extrudes beam elements (to plate elements) or plate elements (to solid elements) along the axis of rotation.

TRANSLATIONAL DRAG

    Extrudes beam elements (to plate elements) or plate elements (to solid elements) along W-axis.

3 OR 4 LINE DRAG

   Extrudes beam elements (to plate elements) or plate elements (to solid elements) along 3 or 4 selected lines.

EXIT

                               

           The following sections cover the details for each command.

 

-DRAG MESH: ONE LINE DRAG

 


Description: This section covers the options for the ONE LINE DRAG subsection of DRAG MESH. This function extrudes the selected elements along the selected line to form the higher order elements (i.e., 1D elements <PLOTEL, beams> are extruded to form plates, and plate elements are extruded to form solid elements).

 

Usage:

 

1.  DSI prompts:

>   SELECT ELEMENTS

 

2.  Then DSI prompts:

>   SELECT CONTROL LINE FOR DRAG MESH

•   Number of points on the selected drag line dictates the number of sections created.

•   Line direction must point in the direction of the intended mesh.

 

3.  Once the line is selected, the mesh is created.  DSI prompts:

>   ACCEPT DRAG MESH? (Y/N)

 

-DRAG MESH: NORMAL DRAG

 


Description: This section covers the options for the NORMAL DRAG subsection of DRAG MESH. The normal drag function extrudes the selected plate elements in the normal direction to create solid elements.

 

Usage:

 

1.  DSI prompts:

>   SELECT ELEMENTS

 

2.  Then DSI prompts:

>   ENTER THICKNESS OF NORMAL DRAG

 •   This is the total thickness of the drag operation.

>    ENTER NUMBER OF LAYERS THRU THICKNESS (DEFAULT: 1)

 •   This is the thickness of each layer of elements.

>    ACCEPT EXTRUDE MESH? (Y/N)

Note: Plate element normals should be consistent prior to the execution of NORMAL DRAG.

 

-DRAG MESH: ROTATIONAL DRAG

 


Description: This section covers the options for the ROTATIONAL DRAG subsection of DRAG MESH. This function extrudes the selected elements along the axis of rotation to form the higher order elements (i.e., 1D elements <PLOTEL, beams> are extruded to form plates, and plate elements are extruded to form solid elements).

 

Usage:

 

1.  DSI prompts to select elements.

 

2.  DSI prompts to define the axis of rotation.

 

3.  DSI prompts:

     >   ENTER ROTATION ANGLE ABOUT W-AXIS OR 0 TO EXIT

 

4.  DSI prompts:

     >   ENTER NUMBER OF LAYERS ABOUT W-AXIS OR 0 TO EXIT

 

5.  Once the number of layers is entered, the mesh is created.  DSI prompts:

>   ACCEPT MESH? (YES/NO/REMESH)

 

-DRAG MESH: TRANSLATIONAL DRAG

 


Description: This section covers the options for the TRANSLATIONAL DRAG subsection of DRAG MESH. This function extrudes the selected elements along the W-axis to form the higher order elements (i.e., 1D elements <PLOTEL, beams> are extruded to form plates, and plate elements are extruded to form solid elements).

 

Usage:

 

1.  DSI prompts to select elements.

 

2.  DSI prompts to create local coordinates.

 

3.  Once local coordinates are defined, DSI prompts:

     >   ENTER DRAG DISTANCE ALONG W-AXIS OR 0 TO EXIT

 

4.  Then DSI prompts:

     >   ENTER NUMBER OF LAYERS ABOUT W-AXIS OR 0 TO EXIT

 

5.  Once the number of layers is entered, the mesh is created.  DSI prompts:

                            >   ACCEPT MESH? (YES/NO/REMESH)

 

-DRAG MESH: 3 OR 4 LINE DRAG

 


Description: This section describes the options for the 3 OR 4 LINE DRAG subsection of DRAG MESH. The line drag commands extrude the selected plate elements to create solid elements bounded by 3 or 4 lines in space.

 

Usage:

 

1.  DSI prompts:

>   SELECT ELEMENTS

 

2.  DSI prompts:

>    SELECT 3 (THEN PRESS D) OR 4 CONTROL LINES

 •   The user must select the 4 volume lines in clockwise or counterclockwise order.

 

3.   Once the desired lines are selected, DSI prompts:

 ENTER NUMBER OF LAYERS OF SOLID ELEMENTS

?   ACCEPT MESH. (Y/N)

  Line direction is not important during 4 LINE DRAG, but the lines should be of reasonable length to form the desired shape.  The control lines do not have to pass through the nodes of the plate elements.